The Christmas Date

She finished the front windshield and did the back, as well, figuring that late was late, as her boss would say, and he’d much rather have her safe than injured in an accident because she’d been unable to see.

Kate tossed the squeegee back in the bucket. While she loved her job as a paralegal, her goal was to be a lawyer and she’d devoted herself these past five years to earning a law degree in night school. Marshall had already offered her a position as an associate lawyer upon her graduation next spring, and while Kate was grateful he’d made her job search easier, she hadn’t yet said yes. Murray, Evans and Jasper was one of Orlando’s largest firms, and that meant dozens of people worked there, many of whom Kate had never met. She couldn’t discount her concern that she might be more comfortable starting out in a smaller firm. Although the anonymity of a large firm might help her when she showed up late—as she would today.

Her receipt printed, and she tore it off, but as she did so, the wind tugged it from her grasp and sent it flying across the station lot.

She started after it as fast as her sensible one-inch blue pumps would allow. She had almost retrieved it when a hand reached down to the pavement and scooped up the wayward slip. “Here you go.”

Him.

“Uh, thanks.” He placed the paper in her waiting hand, his touch almost ticklish against her palm. She closed her hand around the slip, crumpling the paper, and straightened. “I appreciate your help.”

“You’re probably someone who reconciles receipts with your credit-card statement,” he said.

“Is there something wrong with that?” Kate snapped, irritated at the day and this man, who’d somehow pegged her when he didn’t even know her. Worse, he was smiling!

“Of course not,” the guy said with a grin. “Have a great day and watch those receipts. They like to escape.” Then he climbed into the black Hummer.

Kate stood there a moment, fuming as she watched him drive out of the gas station. Then she shook herself. Yes, those hot guys were all the same. Arrogant. Cocky. Self-assured. Jack had been that way—No, she wouldn’t think of Jack the Jerk. And she wouldn’t think about this guy. Orlando, Florida, was a huge place. It wasn’t as though she’d see him again.

Thank goodness.

“YOU KNOW, finding Mr. Right is like riding a horse. If you fall off, you have to climb right back into the saddle.”

Kate stared at her best friend and coworker, who’d stopped by. Up until this moment, her day had gotten better. Marshall’s court appearance had been successful, and no one had said anything about her not getting to the office until ten.

“That’s not it. I have to study tonight,” Kate said, trying to explain why she didn’t want to attend Gail’s party. “I’ve got finals in a few weeks.”

Wendy exhaled, causing a strand of her wavy brown hair to dance. “Study tomorrow. That’s what Saturday afternoons are for. Tonight you need to get out and find a new man.”

Kate sighed. Three years of close friendship meant that Wendy wouldn’t give up. The two women were the classic example of opposites attract. Wendy was a vivacious brunette; Kate a blonde who’d rather study than socialize. Wendy dated three to five times weekly; Kate dated that number yearly.

“Wendy,” Kate began. “I’m tired of people thinking there’s something wrong with me just because I don’t have a man in my—”

Wendy cut Kate off with an emphatic shake of her head. “Well, I’m tired of your excuses. Just because you live on a street populated with retirees doesn’t mean you have to be old before your time. Heck, most of the seniors on your block probably have a better sex life than you do. When’s the last time you got any action? And don’t tell me it was Jack.”

“Wendy!” Kate remonstrated and glanced around her cubicle. Hopefully no one had overheard her. Kate had been embarrassed enough already.

“Seriously, Kate. The guy was a jerk. We all told you not to date him, and ever since he, well…”

Wendy paused and Kate grimaced as she thought of Jack’s public dumping of her, where, in front of no fewer than ten people, he declared her to be a cold fish.

“Don’t say it,” Kate warned. Despite the incident having taken place over half a year ago, the humiliation was still fresh.

“Fine. But you’re closeting yourself away. Men are good for something, you know.”

Yeah, catching receipts, Kate thought as she frowned. She’d learned the hard way that men, especially attractive men, simply weren’t interested in her. She was too plain, too uptight, too smart, too career-focused, too something.

Men were like roadwork zones. You had to use extreme caution. Besides, she’d never been good at dating. Maybe her inadequacy stemmed from her mother’s abandonment. Perhaps Kate was simply the ice maiden Jack had declared her to be. He’d called her the most frigid woman he’d ever been to bed with. She could still picture everyone’s shocked faces.

“Stop thinking about it,” Wendy said, reading Kate’s mind. “Your mom and Jack both did a number on you. But only you can break the victim cycle.”

“I understand that, which is why I refuse to be like her or deal with guys like Jack again. Dating can wait. My priority is graduation from law school then a career. Then maybe a husband. Unlike my mother, who had too many boyfriends to count and three marriages lasting mere months, I’m planning on doing it only once. Heck, maybe I’ll be like Oprah and not get married. Besides, I’m one step ahead. I’ve already got the house.”

“Yeah, on a street where the average age is a hundred. You’re twenty-seven.” Wendy pursed her lips. “You’re still young. Give men another chance to prove they aren’t all like Jack. At least get out there and mingle. No one’s saying you have to marry the next man you meet. Just indulge your needs a little. A woman has them. Believe me, I know.”

“You indulge yours all the time,” Kate said, cracking a smile. She’d heard all the stories, usually over morning coffee, when Wendy would regale Kate with her previous night’s adventures.

Kate’s reply threw Wendy off balance, but only for a second. Wendy grinned. “You bet I do. Who says a man should be the only one to play the field? There’s a huge double standard. I’m worried that if you don’t, you’ll forget how. Then you’ll end up an old maid with just your devil cat for company until the end of your days.”

“My cat is not a devil,” Kate rebuked. Her cat was merely temperamental, that was all. “And remember my mantra. There are worse things than being alone. Jack was perfect proof.”

“I’m sure you’re not what he said, but you won’t prove to yourself that you weren’t the cause of his erectile dysfunction until you get back out there. The cure for your tension is a night of unbridled lust.” Wendy saw the dubious expression on Kate’s face. “Okay, some harmless flirtation. Platonic. Jeez. And speaking of that house, perhaps you should move someplace more happening. My condo complex, for example, would be perfect. Not a retiree in sight.”

Wendy’s condo complex had the nickname Sin City—it was full of young singles and full of sin. Kate rolled her eyes. “My grandmother willed me the house. It’s paid for. Already the property value has gone up ten percent. It’s a good investment.”

Wendy was not to be daunted. “Exactly! She’d want you to sell and invest the money. Buy yourself some slinky clothes, get a hip condo and find a nice man to warm your bed. I’m sure your grandmother didn’t want you to live alone and celibate on a street full of geriatrics who have retired to central Florida for fun in the sun. Stop suppressing your sexuality. I mean, when was the last time you kissed someone?”

Forever. The image of the guy at the gas station jumped into Kate’s head again and she slumped. As if such a guy would ever consider her.

“Look, I’m not like you,” she said softly. Men of all types flocked to Wendy and she went through them like candy, claiming she quickly got bored. “I grew up on that street,” Kate continued, “I’m comfortable there. I’m busy with school, and most law-school grads are younger than I am. They didn’t opt for the night-school-takes-forever plan. I have to be competitive, so my grades are important.”

“You know I only want what’s best for you. As a friend of long standing, I have to tell you you’re becoming isolated. You’re losing touch.”

“Well, Nora does always drop hints for me to date her grandson, Niles,” Kate conceded.

Wendy scoffed. “Yeah, right. Any grandson of Nosy Nora is bound to be a geek.”

Perhaps, and Kate didn’t want to date Niles any more than she wanted to date someone else. Seeing Kate’s silence as indecision, Wendy overrode Kate’s last defense.

“Kate, today is November thirtieth. You can put off studying for one night, especially since it’s the weekend. Get out and live a little. Hang out with all your friends. We’ve missed you, me in particular.”

“Wendy…” Kate said.

Her friend stood firm. “Kate, you cannot base every guy on Jack the Jerk. I know he hurt you, but put it behind you. We’ll have fun.”

Kate picked up the troll doll she kept on her desk and gave him a vicious twirl. His orange hair spiked. Although the idea didn’t sit well, maybe she did need to pick up a man she didn’t care about and do the deed, just see if the lack of passion had been more Jack’s fault than hers. And she had missed hanging out with her friends. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Super.” Wendy smiled now that the matter was settled. “I’ll pick you up at eight. Be ready. Wear something sexy.” With that, Wendy headed for the elevator. Kate stood up, peered over the cubicle walls and watched her walk away.

“Eight o’clock,” Wendy called as the elevator doors opened. “Don’t forget.”

“I won’t.” Kate slumped back in her chair, ready to put her lack of a love life behind her and get back to work.

“GIN.”

As Nora spread her winning hand on the card table, revealing the jack of clubs Frieda needed, Frieda tossed hers down in disgust. She’d been playing cards with Nora for over thirty years, but she’d never been beaten this bad by her best friend and neighbor, the self-titled Queen of Dogwood Lane. “That’s the sixth time in a row,” Frieda said, miffed about her current winless streak. This was supposed to be a fun way to relax after helping Nora put up her Christmas decorations. No one was as serious about Christmas as Nora; she had everything up by the end of November.

“I can’t help that I’m a winner. When you’re hot, you’re hot.” Nora grinned, the smile lines at her mouth deepening.